Writer: Peter Chai

Writer Ratings:
Overall:
Cast:
Plot:
Effects:
Cinematography:

Watch this if you liked: “All’s Well Ends Well 2009” and “Love Is… Pyjamas”

Comedy director Vincent Kuk collaborates with veteran producer Raymond Wong once again for another Chinese New Year flick for the Year of Snake. They continue their usual Hong Kong-style humour in "Hotel Deluxe", a joyful story that follows street smart assistant manager Bao Ding (Ronald Cheng), room service manager Peach Sister (Sandra Ng), chief bartender Pang Chun (Chapman To), and two receptionists, who work in a 5-star hotel called "Hundred Stars Hotel" until the bossy Gu Doi (Teresa Mo) appears. She is their new female manager who promises to maintain the standard of the hotel by inviting a movie production crew to shoot a new film in the hotel, as the presence of movie stars Marilyn (Janelle Sing) and Audrey (Lynn Xiong) will bring the fame their hotel needs. Meanwhile, Bao Ding's long-time friend Bo Bo (Fiona Sit) is asking Bao a huge favour as she wants to organize a fake wedding at the hotel in order to avoid her property from being stolen by her weird uncle Ho San (Raymond Wong).

First of all, it is a wise decision made by Wong and his team to take a break from the ongoing "All's Well, Ends Well" franchise because the craziness carried out in the previous instalments is already exhaustingly redundant. "Hotel Deluxe" provides a much more relaxing and softer tone for the audience to see the uniqueness of each hilarious role and the almost unpredictable script.

Unlike the nonsense that annoyed us in his 2009 directorial effort "All's Well, Ends Well 2009", you will give credit to director Kuk for proving that exaggeration is not necessary for a film to amuse. Instead of giving prominence to Sandra Ng like what he did in 2009, the former Stephen Chow partner cleverly tones down Ng's aggressiveness in the comedic lineup by casting her in a lightweight character that puts her away from the spotlight at times, so that when Ng makes her appearances during the crucial incidents, the actress delivers a relatively good performance as a hotel cleaner and joker at the same time.

Without Teresa Mo, the film will be less fun and exciting. Just like her role's high position in the hotel, you can see that she is sort of a leader for the casts as well. The "Love Is... Pyjamas" leading lady has built a good chemistry with her co-stars especially Ng in handling the arrival of the arrogant movie star played by model Lynn Xiong and the mysterious world class hotel judge, who visits the hotel in a surprising manner.

As usual, Chapman To's humorous conversation with Ronald Cheng will have you hee-hawing throughout the movie and their interactions immediately remind us of the classic encounter between the two comedians in the box office record-breaking "Vulgaria" last year, except this time they are not expressing the vulgar conception of human beings.

One of the funniest scenes would be Cheng's dressing himself in a Wolverine costume with forks and knives replacing the claws of the comic character made famous by the macho Hugh Jackman during a filming scene with his crush Marilyn near the pool.

We understand that you'll be having a long list of movie choices this coming Chinese New Year, but trust the reviewer, if you are looking forward to love, humanity and togetherness, it is highly recommended for you to head to the cinemas this February to celebrate one of the most wonderful times of the year with "Hotel Deluxe".

Cinema Online, 31 January 2013